Category Archives: Spanish Royals

July 15th-18th King Juan Carlos paid an official visit to the Kingdom of Morocco from July 15th until July 18th. This official visit was postponed earlier this year as the King was due for surgery and thus the visit was rescheduled. The King was greeted upon arrival at Rabat-Salé Airport by King Mohammed VI of Morocco, Crown Prince Moulay Hassan and Prince Moulay Rachid. The Spanish Monarch was later the … Continue reading →

Don Felipe Juan de Marichalar y Borbón celebrated his 15th birthday on July 17th. The eldest son of Infanta Elena of Spain and Don Jaime de Marichalar, he is currently fifth in the line of succession to the Spanish Throne. Don Felipe Juan was named in honour of his uncle Prince Felipe and great-grandfather, Infante Juan the Count of Barcelona, but he is often referred to by his Saints name … Continue reading →

On July 13th, 1966 a largely forgotten member of the Spanish Royal Family died at Sanlúcar de Barrameda in southern Spain. The royal lady in question was Beatrice, Duchess of Galliera, who was a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. Born Princess Beatrice of Edinburgh on April 20th, 1884 in Kent, her father was Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and her mother was Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrovna of Russia. Prior to her … Continue reading →

Madrid – June 20th, 2013 King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia presided over a solemn anniversary mass at the magnificent Capilla Real de Madrid to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of the King’s late father, Infante Don Juan de Borbón, Count of Barcelona. Also attending the mass were the entire extended Spanish Royal Family: the Prince and Princess of Asturias, Infantas Elena and Cristina, Don Felipe Juan de … Continue reading →

His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan paid a week long official visit to the Kingdom of Spain from June 10th to the 17th. The Crown Prince was invited by the the invitation of the Spanish Government to mark the 400th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Spain and Japan. The Crown Prince was received and welcomed by the Prince of Asturias on Monday June 10th at a ceremony at … Continue reading →

Madrid – June 1st, 2013 Their Majesties The King and Queen were accompanied by the Prince and Princess of Asturias to preside over the Day of the Armed Forces ceremony in Madrid on Saturday June 1st. This very solemn ceremony is a tribute to all fallen soldiers on Armed Forces Day and this year took place on the Plaza de la Lealtad in Madrid. The Plaza de la Lealtad also … Continue reading →

The Prince and Princess of Asturias celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary on May 22nd. Prince Felipe, the heir to the Spanish throne, married former television journalist Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano at a lavish wedding ceremony which was celebrated at the Cathedral of Santa María la Real de La Almudena in Madrid. The couple have two daughters: Infantas Leonor and Sofia. It was business as usual for the Prince and Princess despite … Continue reading →

The Prince and Princess of Asturias, accompanied by Infanta Pilar, Duchess of Badajoz, presided over the Pledge of Allegiance to the Royal Guard Ceremony at the El Pardo Palace on May 10th. Also present during this very solemn ceremony were the Spanish Minister of Defence and the only daughter of Infanta Pilar, Doña Simoneta Gómez-Acebo. The Prince of Asturias, who was dressed in full military uniform and wore the beret … Continue reading →

Infanta Cristina of Spain, who had been summoned by a judge to appear in court in Palma de Mallorca, has had her imputation suspended by a Spanish court due to lack of evidence. However, the charges could be reinstated if further evidence is unearthed, the High Court of Mallorca stated. Her husband Iñaki Urdangarin is at the centre of a corruption scandal over allegations regarding the misappropriation of several million … Continue reading →

Blanche of Artois is an important but long-forgotten historical figure. Born a Princess of France in 1248, Blanche was the daughter of Robert of France, Count of Artois and Matilda of Brabant. Her paternal grandparents were Louis VIII of France and Blanche of Castile, while her uncle was King Louis IX of France. Her father was killed in Egypt during the Seventh Crusade in 1250 and her younger brother, Robert, … Continue reading →

Infanta Sofia of Spain turns 6 on April 29th. The youngest daughter of the Prince and Princess of Asturias, Sofia was born at the Ruber International Clinic in Madrid in 2007; she has an older sister, Infanta Leonor. The Infanta was named in honour of her paternal grandmother, Queen Sofia, and was baptised in the gardens of the Palacio de la Zarzuela on July 15th, 2007. Her most recent public … Continue reading →

Madrid – April 22nd, 2013 Following an absence of just under 50 days, His Majesty King Juan Carlos I made his first public appearance on Monday following his recent back surgery. The 75 year old Spanish Monarch has spent the past few weeks in recovery. His Majesty, accompanied by Queen Sofia, hosted an audience at his Zarzuela private office for Cervantes Prize winner José Manuel Caballero Bonald and his wife, … Continue reading →

April 13th, 2013 Is the Spanish Monarchy in crisis? Many royal watchers are commenting on the current Annus horribilis of the Spanish Borbóns, and 2012 was not a good year either. The current ongoing investigation surrounding Iñaki Urdangarin in an alleged corruption scandal saw his wife, Infanta Cristina, being formally named as a suspect in the case. The fact that a Spanish Infanta has to appear in court has damaged … Continue reading →

April 3rd, 2013 Infanta Cristina of Spain has been summoned by a judge to appear in court in Palma de Mallorca on the 27th of April. Her husband Iñaki Urdangarin is at the centre of a corruption scandal over allegations regarding the misappropriation of several millions euros of public funds when he was head of the non-profit Noos Institute. Iñaki Urdangarin has so far appeared twice before the Balearic Court, … Continue reading →

March 31st, 2013 – Palma de Mallorca Members of the Spanish Royal Family attended the traditional Easter Sunday Mass at the Cathedral of Santa Maria de Palma de Mallorca. Present this year were Queen Sofia, the Prince and Princess of Asturias along with their two daughters Infantas Leonor and Sofia, and Infanta Elena. King Juan Carlos did not travel to the Balearic capital this Easter as he is still in … Continue reading →

Her Majesty Queen Sofia and members of the Spanish Royal Family presided over a gala dinner in honour of the IOC Evaluation Commission at the Palacio Real in Madrid on Wednesday, March 20th. The Queen was accompanied by TRH The Prince and Princess of Asturias and the Infantas Elena and Pilar of Spain. The IOC are in Spain this week to discuss Madrid’s bid to host the 2020 Olympic Games. Prior … Continue reading →

March 19th, 2013 – The Vatican World leaders and members of several royal houses attended the Papal Inauguration Mass at the Vatican for His Holiness Pope Francis today. Over 200,000 pilgrims had packed into St Peters Square to witness this very solemn ceremony. Royals present were King Albert II and Queen Paola of Belgium, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, Prince Felix of Luxembourg, the Prince … Continue reading →

March 14th, 2013 – Madrid Infanta Elena of Spain delivered the 5th Young Social Entrepreneurs Awards at the European University of Madrid on March 14th. The awards, which are handed out annually, by the European University of Madrid Foundation in recognition of the merits of young entrepreneurs to improve social or environmental situations The Duchess of Lugo was accompanied to this event by the Spanish Secretary of State for Education, … Continue reading →

March 9th, 2013 – Madrid After spending the previous six days in at the La Milagrosa Clinic in Madrid having had surgery on a herniated disc, King Juan Carlos was discharged from hospital on Saturday March 9th. Before leaving, the King posed for several photos with the hospital staff. As the Spanish monarch left the hospital, he briefly spoke to the awaiting media outside. Earlier in the week, members of … Continue reading →

Infanta Margarita of Spain, Duchess of Soria and Hernani celebrates her 74th birthday on March 6th. A younger sister of King Juan Carlos I of Spain, Margarita was born in 1939 in Rome, Italy and has been blind since birth. The youngest child of the late Count and Countess of Barcelona was born during the Royal Family’s exile during the final years of the Spanish Civil War. Margarita has an … Continue reading →